“Vital Climate Change Graphics for Latin America and the Caribbean demonstrates both the urgent need to act and the significant benefits that could be gained by taking early action to adapt and reduce the region’s vulnerability to climate change.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) – through its Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division – and GRID-Arendal hereby present Vital Climate Change Graphics for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Vital Graphics series provides a clear, direct, visual presentation of issues relevant to the global environment, based on a scientific analysis of available, up-to-date information. Vital Climate Change Graphics for Latin America and the Caribbean outlines for decision makers, academics and the general public the climate change phenomenon in the region, focusing on its effects and its causes. The document describes the ways in which climate change manifests itself, drawing on historical analysis of variables such as temperature, precipitation and sea levels. In addition, it details the effects of climate change on ecosystem services, human health and the region’s vulnerability to extreme events. Lastly, it provides an analysis of global and regional greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and identifies possible options in the region for mitigating the impact of climate change.

The phenomenon of climate change constitutes one of the greatest challenges that humanity will face in the 21st century and is therefore one of the highest-priority issues on the public and private agendas of both the developed and developing countries.